WORK BUZZ.

Bill to protect gays may pass this time

May 01, 2002|By T. Shawn Taylor.

The buzz in Washington is that support from corporate America for legislation to ban workplace discrimination against gay and lesbian workers could improve the bill's chances of getting passed this time.

The legislation, which has been around since 1975, was headed back to the Senate floor as of last week.

Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.), committee chairman and the bill's sponsor, said although many businesses have their own anti-discrimination policies, that is not enough.

"This patchwork of protection from employment discrimination leaves many Americans without redress," he told the Associated Press. "A federal law is sorely needed to ensure that all Americans receive equal treatment in the workplace."

Kennedy's plan failed in the Senate in 1996. The legislation has never made it to the floor of the House.